Limerick regeneration to begin

The Government’s plan to regenerate some of Limerick’s most deprived estates will get underway this summer, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said.

Speaking at Government Buildings this afternoon with Minister of State for Housing Michael Finneran, Mr Cowen said the scheme would incorporate 26 new regeneration projects worth €337 million.

“I consider the regeneration initiative in Limerick to be of the utmost importance, both for the communities and families living in the city, but also as a demonstration of this Government’s ability to deliver complex projects across the whole of the public sector,” Mr Cowen said.

“I believe this is a recoverable investment by Government, by the taxpayer, in view of the blighted lives and reduced potential of the areas concerned, as a result of our failure to plan properly in the past,” he added.

Mr Finneran said the projects would benefit the people of Moyross, Southill, Ballinacurra Weston and St. Mary’s Park.

“The approval of these projects show that this Government has listened to their problems, we have heard them, and are delivering on our commitment to work with them to rebuild their communities.”

Mr Finneran said he was committed to providing over 850 new and refurbished social housing units, and the associated enabling works, at a total cost of €160m over the next four-and-a-half years.

“Regeneration is not just about bricks and mortar," he said.

In April, The Irish Times reported John Fitzgerald, chairman of the Limerick Regeneration Agencies, warned weaknesses in local government in the Limerick region could derail the scheme. He said the Government would have to consider setting up an alternative structure to advance regeneration because the existing local authorities may not have the right skills.

Labour Party TD for Limerick East, Jan O’Sullivan, welcomed today's announcement, saying many people in the areas earmarked for regeneration “have already waited far too long for these projects to be given the green light”.